European United Left/Nordic Green Left European Parliamentary Group

Air passengers’ rights impinged by greedy one-bag rule

18/01/2013

MEPs call on the Commission to take action on the restrictive one carry-on bag rule imposed by certain airlines.

Time

image : CC _Tophee_

Discussing a Transport Committee oral question that calls on the Commission to take action on the restrictive one carry-on bag rule imposed by certain airlines, GUE/NGL MEP Paul Murphy today described the practice as "a means for airlines to maximise profits at all costs".

Addressing the European Parliament, he commented: "Many airlines use this one-bag rule not in the interests of passenger safety or comfort but simply as a means of increasing their bottom line by forcing passengers into paying inflated fees for check baggage. It is a raw expression of capitalist greed."

The oral question calls on the Commission to address the now infamous 'one-bag rule', as well as rules on items such as laptop bags and restrictions on passengers’ airport retail purchases, through measures that would harmonise commercial practices in the field and set a common upper limit on the size and weight of hand luggage on EU flights.